GENERAL FOCH'S SURPRISE.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 August 1918, Page 6

GENERAL FOCH'S SURPRISE.

GERMAN FAILURE ADMITTED. LONNDON, July 28. Dr Wegener, in the Cologne Gazette, in the longest message yet printed regarding General Foch’s attack, admits that the German offensive failed because it lacked the element of surprise. The German command stopped the advance in order to avoid the sacrifice of lives.

At that vital moment, Foch’s offensive commenced at another point. The news created a very uneasy feeling as the attack was in the rear of the German positions. The woods helped the French to mass artillery and hide their storm troops. Foch carried out movements which looked like the 'withi drawing of troops, but this proved to bo camouflage. Every wood and gully was full of troops and material at the time when the Germans hoped that their offensive would have forced Foch to renounce his schemes.

Dr. Wegener is of opinion that the great novelty of the French attack was the number of flanks’. The French built these secretly. They are of a surprisingly small type, and hence have greater mobility and are easily manoeuvred. The tanks led the way, and morally strengthened the infantry. The low visibility of the early morning, the broken nature of the ground, and the high standing corn, assisted to hide the tanks and storm troops. The Gorman artillery could not be effective It was thus that Foch’s counter- offensive was launched.

The Berliner Tageblatt says that it | would be self-deception to deny that Foch's offensive has brought remarkable results, and adds that the German High Command must beware of the strategy of the French generals. A decision must be reached between Soissons and Chateau Thierry,